30 - The Chapter with the motorcycle rides
Christian
I called everyone in for lunch, and soon we were gathered around the table. My father was making an effort to get to know all my friends, putting aside the whole jealous and protective father act, he was interested in every aspect of our lives on campus, swapping stories from his own college years so many years ago.
" Mr. Campbell, I must say that you are my example of a successful man," Liam declared finally, seeming to have become my father's number one fan.
" Rose, I like your friend. Why don't you date him? " My father surprised me.
Christian, who was sitting facing me, frowned at the statement, while I stared at my father with both eyebrows raised.
" Do you want me to date a guy who introduced himself to you as a fully assumed scoundrel?"
" At least he's assumed. It won't be a surprise to you," Jack argued.
Before we could dwell on that subject, Jackson's cell phone vibrated on the table, and he smiled as he read a message on it.
" Rose, is this a quiet street? " Christian asked.
" Yes, it's very quiet.”
" Well, I hope you guys feel at home, I have to go pick up Alex " Jackson explained, getting up.
" What do you think about going for a ride on my motorcycle? I'll let you change gears this time " Christian proposed.
" What? " my father sat down again, alternating his gaze between us " so you're really letting her ride your Harley?”
" Under great threat of death if I scratch his precious fat boy.” I rolled my eyes.
" I don't judge, I rented a car to teach you how to drive just to keep you away from Brigitte! " he exclaimed.
" She's doing fine," Christian assured him.
" He has more faith in me than you do, Dad," I teased.
" That's because I've known you longer, and he's young and inexperienced, he doesn't know things!”
" I'm dying to see how these classes work," Liam said as he stood up.
Soon everyone, including my father, was in front of the house watching Christian's motorcycle while I put on his helmet.
" She is beautiful, is the paint original? " Jack asked, circling Christian's Harley, leaving his tough dad pose behind.
" When Rose asked me to teach her, I warned her that I would slit her throat if she scratched the paint, but after much negotiation, we reached an agreement that a stab in the leg would solve the situation.”
" A stab in the leg for this painting? Boy, you should reconsider the slit throat " I turned awestruck to the man, already wearing his helmet.
" DAD!”
" Do you want to go for a ride?”
" Sure, Rose, give me the helmet," my father nodded.
" Jackson, isn't Alex expecting you? " My mother reminded.
My father's eyes widened before he checked his pocket for the car key and headed toward the garage.
" We'll talk about this later, Rose beware of... What's her name? " he asked Christian.
" He didn't give her a name, and wouldn't let me name her either," I answered to my father's surprise, who remained torn for a few seconds.
" We'll talk about it later," he finally decided, getting into his car.
I climbed on the bike, waiting for Christian to take his place on the back. He obviously leaned on the backrest, keeping his hands off my body before telling me to start.
" Your family is amazing," he commented as soon as we got a little further away.
" They were accusing you of being a drug dealer when I arrived," I remembered.
" It was an honest doubt," he defended my parents, making me hold in my laughter. “You did the same when we first met.”
" I didn't accuse you of dealing drugs, I accused you of producing drugs," I returned, getting a laugh in return.
I walked for a few minutes at a slow speed, circling the street while my colleagues cheered for me every time I passed in front of the house, but their constant presence prevented us from having more intimate contact, which was frustrating.
" Were you and Sky serious about the discussion with Audrey and Alicia? " He came a little closer “You can speed up a little more, you're doing fine, change gear.”
" There was no discussion, at most a passive aggressive conversation. They were trying to manipulate Liam.”
He accepted that answer and for a few minutes we remained silent, when we stopped again in front of my parents' house, my friends started to take turns wanting to ride the bike, Christian helped Theo and Harry helped Sky, making it clear that Liam wouldn't drive. I sat alone on the porch steps, since my mother had already gone inside. When it was Harry's turn on the bike, Christian came to sit next to me, watching the group that seemed to be having fun there.
" I thought that no one would pull over your precious Fat Boy.”
" I'm in a good mood," he smiled.
" You're in a good mood? That's rare," I teased him.
" Almost as rare as you not being an annoying pain in the ass, but it happens," he returned with a half smile.
" Davis, you treat me so well that I'm going to fall in love," I let out in a wry tone, putting my hand to my chest.
" My goal in life," he laughed.
We were silent again for a few seconds, just watching our friends' mirth as he spoke again.
" I was talking to Liam, he told me about your talk," Christian remarked nonchalantly.
" Talk? " I frowned, trying to remember what conversation he was talking about.
" Yes, the talk you had in the car about Alicia," he added.
I turned to him with a surprised expression on my face. I hadn't expected Liam to tell him any of this!
" He said you looked uncomfortable," he added.
" I am uncomfortable now. Why would he tell you something like that?”
" Didn't you want me to know? " He raised his eyebrows.
" If you were to know, I would have told you, not him!”
I put my elbows on my knees, propping my face up in a frown. Why did he get himself into this? There was nothing much to what I told him in the first place, how would he feel if I told Sky everything he had already told me about her?
" Why are you so defensive? Are you jealous?”
" Christian, I'm not jealous, especially of you. I just told him that you would be a Dumb if you decided to go back with her," I turned to him, crossing my arms.
" Dumb? " He didn't look very happy about that statement.
" Yes, Dumb with a capital D. What would you call the guy who decided to run back to the girl who humiliated him in front of so many people? " I raised my eyebrows.
" I don't think that's your decision, if I want to have sex with her it's my choice, after all that was my intention from the start," he returned angrily.
The two of us exchanged angry glances for a few seconds until I turned back to face forward, watching my friends on the street.
" Sorry, I shouldn't have…”
" You're an Asshole. That little game on the day of the festival was only to massage your great male pride, but in the end, you'll still be running after her like a mongrel!”
" Is that you not having a jealousy crisis? " He looked at me with amusement.
I gave him the middle finger, stood up, and walked into my mother's house. I felt my blood boil. What's his problem? Even if we're not exclusive, he thinks it's good form to come and tell me who he wants or doesn't want to have sex with. Even more with her!
